The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025, on the whole, showed promise during its collective rookie season. The only player, though, honored on the Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team played exactly one snap on offense or defense.
Carson Bruener was the designated specialist on the PFWA all-rookie team released Tuesday. A seventh-round pick out of Washington, Bruener is a linebacker by trade but was rarely deployed at a position at which the 2025 Steelers had great depth.
But Bruener — the son of former Steelers tight end Mark Bruener — was one of the team’s most-utilized players on special teams. Only four players logged more special-teams snaps than Bruener, who was a part of all of the “core four” units (kickoff coverage and return, punt coverage and return).
Only eight players across the NFL had more special-teams tackles this past season than Bruener (19).
Steelers not named to the PFWA all-rookie team were defensive tackles Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black and outside linebacker Jack Swayer, each of whom had representative seasons as respective first-, fifth- and fourth-round draft picks.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan won the awards for the PFWA’s overall and offensive rookie of the year. Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger was defensive rookie of the year.
Minor moves
The Steelers signed three players to reserve/future contracts: offensive tackles Sataoa Laumea and Lorenzo Thompson, in addition to cornerback Doneiko Slaughter.
Laumea was a sixth-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2024 after being a two-time all-Pac 12 selection at Utah. He started six games as a rookie but was cut at the end of this past season’s training camp. The 6-foot-4, 319-pound Laumea spent a brief period on the New Orleans Saints practice squad.
The 6-6, 305-pound Thompson has spent time over the past two years with the Cleveland Browns.
Slaughter played four college seasons at Tennessee and wrapped his career in 2024 at Arkansas. Listed at 6 feet tall, he can play outside and in the slot and spent the summer as an undrafted rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Steelers also let the contracts expire for five players who finished this past season on their practice squad: tight end Jaheim Bell, cornerback Tre Flowers, receiver Brandon Johnson, running back Trey Sermon and tight end Matt Sokol.
Of that group, only Sermon (four games) and Flowers (one) appeared in a game for the Steelers this season.
